"Disguise our mortal evacuations as preparation for the coming Zhao Alliance attack."

Wu Jian ordered, and the servant scurried off to relay the command.

"Call on the forces that our subordinate clans owe us."

A second servant ran off to write and send the calls to arms.

"Distribute equipment from the clan treasury and have everyone get used to their new items."

A third scampered away to enact his commands.

"No further orders."

And the rest dispersed, going off to receive new tasks from the groundskeeper.

The Wu Patriarch stepped up to the cottage door alone and gave a brisk but powerful knock, mimicking the one Feng Lin had used on their first meeting. Qi moved and the door was swung open by an unseen force, inviting him in. He took a step into the house and was immediately hit with the mouthwatering smell of baking. He followed the scent to the kitchen, where he found Feng Lin floating a bowl over a flame that sat upon her palm whilst her other hand stirred at the mixture that was within.

"Sit."

She said and her Qi moved again, pulling out a chair at the table for him. He took the offered seat and looked towards his future wife, unable to stop himself getting enchanted by the sight in front of him.

They stayed like that until the Feng clanswoman finished her stirring and detached the flame from her hand, leaving both the bowl and the fire floating there in a feat of Qi control that left Wu Jian astounded.

"So, I assume you came for more than to just gawk at me baking."

She spoke, taking a seat opposite him.

"Um, yes."

The Wu Clan Head took a moment to clear his throat and get his thoughts in order before he addressed her.

"How quickly can I expect those elders I’ve been promised to come in the event of an attack?"

He asked, his tactical mindset back in place.

"It should take them about 4 days to get here if they travel together."

She answered.

"Good, because the Zhao Alliance’s army has been spotted marching towards us."

He told her.

"They are expected to arrive in 6 days if they wait for all of their forces to gather before launching their attack."

He elaborated.

"I shall inform the clan then."

Feng Lin said, making a mental note.

"But first, would you care to try some Osmanthus Cake?"

She inquired, suffocating the flame by cutting off its Qi supply and floating the bowl over to her so she could grab it. She then flipped the bowl so that it’s contents fell down onto the plate she had positioned below it.

"I would love to."

Wu Jian replied. Wordlessly, Feng Lin took out a knife and cut a slice from the cake, floating it onto a side plate that she also summoned with a fork atop it. His Qi gently caressed hers, and she gave control over the objects to the Wu Patriarch, allowing him to call the plate, fork, and cake slice over to him. He grabbed the fork and, with the manners of a refined gentleman, cut off a small piece, which he stabbed and put in his mouth.

Flavour exploded along his tastebuds, a refreshing taste that seemed to set his mind at ease. His future wife looked expectantly at him and he nodded enthusiastically to her, manners going out the window as he cut himself a large piece.

"This is amazing."

He spoke in her mind, glad for divine sense or else he would’ve spewed crumbs everywhere.

"I’m glad you like it."

She smiled as she replied out loud, only now cutting herself a piece.

"My grandmother taught me how to make it."

She continued, using divine sense as well this time as she took a bite.

"She must be an amazing woman. May I have another?"

Wu Jian’s Qi reached out to the knife in preparation to cut another slice.

"Yes you may. And yes she was."

Feng Lin replied, eyes unfocusing for a few moments before they snapped back to the present.

"She practically raised me since my parents were too busy running the clan."

She continued, eyes tearing up for a second before she blinked the water away.

"What about you?"

She asked, redirecting the conversation.

"Any Wu family secret recipes I should know about?"

"Now that you mention it, there is one."

Wu Jian sent as he took another big bite, addicted to how it seemed to make his burdens feel just that tiny bit lighter.

"Water Chestnut Cake. It’s something my grandfather used to make when he had the time."

It was his turn to have his eyes unfocus for a bit before he went back to looking at Feng Lin.

"But you’d have to find his recipe written down somewhere because he sure didn’t share it with any of us."

He chuckled.

"I’ll see if I can’t find it then."

She laughed along with him.

"You are surprisingly..."

She never got to finish that sentence as she was interrupted by a large explosion that occurred in one of the Wu Clan’s storage locations, the power so forceful that it shook some boulders loose from the mountain. Both cultivators immediately leapt into action, bursting out of the cottage and flying full speed towards the explosion site.

"You save as many as you can, I’ll go after the culprit."

Wu Jian spoke in her mind. She nodded back at him and his chase began.